Human Rights Watch has accused Mali’s armed forces and Russia-controlled Africa Corps of committing fresh abuses against civilians during renewed fighting in the West African country, including a drone strike that reportedly killed eight people and alleged torture of detainees.
In a statement published on October 22, the international rights organisation said the apparent military drone strike occurred on September 16 in Guélédié village in the Mopti region of central Mali. At least six other people were reportedly injured.
According to Human Rights Watch, the victims were men aged between 25 and 40 who had gathered around a tree where a local operator provided paid internet access through Starlink. Witnesses said a drone had flown over the village for about an hour before releasing a munition.
The organisation said it remotely interviewed 15 people between August and September, including three witnesses to the Guélédié incident, four former detainees and eight members of non-governmental organisations.
Human Rights Watch also alleged that Malian soldiers and Africa Corps personnel detained civilians between May and August at the Hamadoun Bocary Barry military base in Sévaré, also in the Mopti region. Former detainees reportedly described being held in a crowded metal shipping container without adequate ventilation, sanitation, food or medical care.
The rights group said some detainees were subjected to severe beatings, electric shocks and waterboarding during interrogations over suspected links to armed group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, also known as JNIM.
“Civilians are bearing the brunt of the Mali junta’s failure to rein in its abusive forces and allies,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, Human Rights Watch’s senior Sahel researcher. She called for Russian officials to be held accountable for abuses allegedly involving Africa Corps.
The Malian military offered a different account of the September strike. In a statement issued on September 17, its chief of staff said troops had identified suspected terrorist elements, military equipment and satellite communication devices northeast of Guélédié before carrying out an operation.
Human Rights Watch said it sent letters to the Malian and Russian defence ministers in early October seeking responses to its findings but had received no replies by the time of publication.
The allegations emerge amid renewed conflict involving Malian forces and armed groups. Human Rights Watch has called for accountability and stronger protection of civilians during military operations.
Deborah Adeyefa
